Gun-carriage of a wide firing-angle.



E. A. L. BOURDELLES. GUN CARRIAGE OF A WIDE FIRING ANGLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I4, 1915. 1,223,931 Patented Ap1z24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I E. A. L. BOURDELLES.

GUN CARRIAGE OF A WlDE APPLICATION FILED APR.

m: Nam"! nuns cc FIRING ANGLE.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Inventor.

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EMILE ALEXANDRE LOUIS BOURVDELLES, or s'n-nnms, FRANCE,

ASSIGNOR TO THE SOOIETE ANONYME DES ETABLISSEMEN TS DELAUNAY-IBELLEVILLE, 0F ST.-DENIS,

FRANCE, A CORPORATION OF FRANCE.

GUN -CARRIAGE OF A "WIDE FIRING-ANGLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ap1x24, 1917.

Application filed April 14, 1915. Serial No. 21,419.

otally connected to the axle about a horizontal axis. The latter system possesses such objections as instability, interfering with the placing of the guns in firing position owing to the position of the center of gravity around the axis of articulation. In certain cases other disadvantages such as a considerable reduction in the angle of elevation are created, if, in order to obviate the first mentioned disadvantages the pivot supporting the gun is placed upon the axle, leavin at the rear of the axle the small apex of the frame.

The present invention relates to a novel connection between the gun carriage and the aXle for guns a wide firing angle, which will permit or a deformation of the gun carriage upon the ground, in accordance with the nature of the latter or with the unequal penetration of the trails due to which, if desired, may be bent. gun carriage may,

cage to the axle during transportation, but leaving a certain clearness in height thus enabling the said axle to oscillate sllghtly plane, with operating stirrup about the main axis of the gun carriage. The operation of the axle may also be effected by means of connecting rods or fingers carried by the gun carriage or axle, penetrating into recesses formed in the axle or gun carriage. These devices for the aXle, however, are not indispensable and the axle through the medium of mg a great length in a direction the gun barrel.

The accompanying a rod havparallel to drawings illustrate, by way .of example, various constructional forms embodying the principles set forth.

Figure 1 is a plan of a 'gun carriage with an axle bent horizontally.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the axle en 0 line ww of Fig. 1, through a plane passing through the axes of the axle Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a plane parallel to the wheels taken on line :I/fl/ of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line zz of Fig. 5, of an axle bent in the vertical members.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line UU of Fig. 4, showing an arrangement for operating the axle through the medium of ngers.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line V-V of Fig. 7

Fig. 7 is a vertical section T-T of Fig 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the stability of the device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the head a of 90 taken on line 6 connected to the axle C through the Incdium of two or more rods 03, d, 0Z d which are pivotally connected to the axle.

The head of the gun carriage also carries the axle C, which is guided and operated by the cheeks e, e of the cage, has a certain amount of vertical play therein, enabling it to assume positions at various angles to the ground with respect to the plane of the trails 7 Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate tional form in which the another construcaxle G, bent 1n a stable and with vertical plane, is operated by two stirrup members 6 e allowing the same a certain amount of vertical play.

The operation of the axle by the gun carriage may also be carried into effect in the manner illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, by means of the fingers g, g engaging in re cesses h, 71/ formed in the axle and having a certain amount of lateral play.

The diagram of stability (Fig. 8) shows, for the horizontal position of the gun carriage a and sitions G, G of the centers of gravity of the structure, gun carriage, cradle and barrel This center of gravity follows a curve with a downwardly directed convexity. The mean position is therefore substantially less inclined connecting rods such as d and d a curve G G having a more pronounced curvature is obtained, affording a better transverse stability.

The margin of stability may also be varied by varying the width of the head of the gun carriage with respect to the length of the connecting rods.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. The combination of a gun carriage hav ing an axle, a gun carriage head, and a link at each side of said head for pivotally supporting the same from the axle for movement substantially parallel to the axle.

2. The combination of a gun carriage ing an axle, a at each side of said head pivoted to the head and to the carriage on pivots extending subhav- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

an inclined position a, the pogun carriage head, and a link to the axle for pivotally supporting the carriage.

3. The combination of a gun carriage, a gun carriage head, means associated with each side of said head to pivotally support the same from .the carriage for movement ment between the carriage and said head longitudinally of the carriage.

4. The combination with a gun carriage, a gun carriage head, trails pivoted thereto, and a link at each side of said head to pivotally support the same from the carriage for movement substantially parallel to the axle of the carriage.

5. The combination with a gun carriage, a gun carriage head, trails pivoted thereto, a link at each side of said head to pivotally support the {.same from the carriage for movement substantially parallel to the axle of the carriage, and means to prevent relative movement between said head and the carriage longitudinally of the latter.

6. The combination with a gun carriage having an axle, of a gun carriage head, and a link pivoted to each side of the head, extending in a plane parallel to a plane of the axle and pivoted to the axle to support the head free of the latter.

I In testimony whereof I 'afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMILE ALEXANDRE LOUIS BOURDJELLES. Witnesses:

HENRI COHEN, CHAs. P. PRESSLY.

by addressing the Commissioner of l'atentl,

Washington, D. 0.

substantially parallel to the axle of the carriage, and means to prevent relative move-- 

